Knockdown scaffold structure



April 8, 1941. J. MANlQN 2,237,572

KNO CKDOWN SCAFFOLD STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 10, 194.0 2 Sheet sSheet 1 2i g- 5.

INVENTOR. ase 0% f? Mania/1 April 1941- J. F. MANION 2.237.572

KNOCKDDWN SCAFFOLD STRUCTURE y 22 Q2: $11 W Filed Feb. 10, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

' This invention relates to knockdown scaffold structures and the object of the invention is to provide a scaffold structure in which the scatiold supports are arranged in two parallel rows tied together longitudinally by cross braces and tied together transversely by transverse truss members which provide a support for the scafiold floor boards and arranged so that an un obstructed space is provided for the workmen to walk longitudinally of the floor boards between the rows of scafiold supports.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement whereby the transverse truss mem-- bers rigidly connect the scaffold uprights and tie them together transversely and also provide a support for the scafiold flooring boards.

it. further object of the invention is to provide toe board brackets on which too boards may be positioned to allow work close to a building wall.

Another object oi the invention is to provide a scahold structure for use with 2 n 4, l it t, or l it 45 uprights and utilizes the combination oi three brackets, a ioot bracket, an intermediate bracket to which the cross bracing is connected and a transverse truss member adjustable on the dill uprights to bring the floor board level to the desired point.

it further object of the invention is to provide adjustable brackets for supporting the transverse truss members, said brackets being adjustable vertically on the uprights to bring the floor boards thereon to the desired level.

dnother object of the invention is to provide a knockdown scaffold structure which may be built up in any desired length or any desired height depending on the purpose for which it is to be utilized.

These objects and the several novel features oi the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form oi construction by whichthese objects are attained is shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. l is a front elevation of a knock-down seafiold structure embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. i.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 oi? Fig. 2.

' Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the foot bracket for the scaffold uprights.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the adjustable I bracket to which the transverse trusses are connected. I

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the bracket for connecting the ends of the aligned uprights.

ill

Fig. 'l is a perspective view of the transverse truss and floor board support.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the cross braces.

The foot support bracket comprises a base plate I shown in Fig. t having a rectangular casing 2 secured thereto and provided with a slot 3 and with lugs 4 adapted to be drawn together by a bolt 5. This casing is shaped to receive the lower end of a wooden four by four upright which may be inserted therein and the casing may be tightened by turning up the bolt 5 to clamp the same on the end of the four by four. An extendingdiange t is provided at each side of the easing 2 and these flanges extend vertically and are each provided with an aperture l to receive the inturned end d of a cross brace ll as will be understood from Figs. l. and d.

The tour by four uprights are usually provided in lengths of twelve, fourteen or sixteen feet as desired. and the ends oi the iour by tours are aligned vertically as shown in Fig. l and may be connected by means oi brackets, one of which is shown in big. e, lhis bracket comprises a plate it having a rectangular extension ii on the upper side and a similar casing extension it on the lower side. These casing portions it and it are shaped to receive the aligned ends of the four by tours and are each provided with a slot i l and with lugs iii which may be drawn together,

by means of bolts l'l shown at the center of Fig. l. The casing portion iii is fitted on the upper end of the lower tour by tour and the lower end of the upper four by tour is inserted in the casing portionjill and the bolts ii are drawn up to clamp the bracket shown in Fig. 6 on the two vertically aligned tour by iour uprights. The plate it is provided with apertures iii to receive the hook end iii of the cross braces it as shown in Figs. l and-8 and vertical flanges iii are provided on the plate it and formed with apertures to receive the ends t of additional cross braces as will be understood from Figs. l and 6.

The bracket for supporting the transverse truss members is shown in Fig. 5 and comprises a horizontal plate llll provided with apertures in opposite edges and having a central clamp por tion it extending through the plate and provided with slots in opposite ends arranged to be tightened and clamped onto the four by fours by the bolts 22 shown in Fig. 5.

An angle plate 23 is welded to each side of the clamp portion ii in spaced relation below the horizontal plate 20 as shown in Fig. 5 and are each provided with apertures 2t aligning with the apertures 25 in the plate 28. The four by four is inserted through the longitudinal clamp member 2i and this clamp member may be adjusted Vertically on the four by fours to any desired position.

As shown in Fig. 'l, a truss member is provided formed of welded rod or tubing or other suitable material and is provided with frame members 26 and 21 having depending ends 723 which may be inserted through the apertures 243 and 25 in the clamp member shown in Fig. 5. The transverse truss is shown in place in Fig. 3 and when the ends 28 are inserted through the aligned apertures 24 and 25 in the adjustable brackets this truss firmly secures these members together as shown in Fig. 3 and stiffens the scaffold. The floor boards 29 shown in Fig. 3 are then laid across the frame members 26 and 21 of the truss as will be understood from Figs. 1, 2' and 3 and it will be noted that the workmen have a clear longitudinal space 30 shown in Fig. 3 in which to walk without interference with any bracing or other obstructions. As will be understood from Fig. 3, the transverse truss members may be provided on each length of four by four and if it is desired to merely use the truss members as stiffeners for the scaffold the floor boards are not laid thereon, as for instance, the floor boards 29 at the lower level in Fig. 3 may be eliminated if it is only desired to use the floor boards on the upper level and the floor boards themselves have no particular effect in strengthening the scaffold.

In order to allow the workmen to approach closely to a building wall, toe board brackets 3| may be provided which are substantially U- shaped in form and are provided with depending ends 32 which may be inserted through the apertures 24 and 25 provided in the plate 20 and angle plate 23 as shown in Fig. 3. These toe board brackets are provided with upturned ends 33 and the toe boards 34 may be positioned on these toe board brackets up close to the building wall to allow the workmen to stand on the toe boards when working on the building wall as will be understood from Figs. 2 and 3. By this arrangement, the cross bracing rods 9 rigidly strengthen the scaffolding longitudinally while the transverse trusses shown in Fig. 7 tie the inner and outer supports together and strengthening the scaffolding transversely. This arrangement allows use of four by fours in standard lengths for building up the scaifolding and the several brackets are arranged for use with four by fours. However, for a light scaflolding, two by fours may be utilized by inserting a short length of additional two by four in each bracket to take up the space remaining when two by fours are inserted therein. The brackets may also be designed to take four by sixes by increasing their size and these brackets may also be used with four by fours by utilizing short lengths of two by fours to fill the remaining space in the brackets or may even be used with two by tours by inserting short lengths of four by fours in each bracket to take up the remaining space.

With the exception of the clamp bolts which remain with each bracket, there are no nuts or bolts or small parts to become lost or mislaid to hold up erection of the scaffold and saves considerable time in checking delivery slips. The scaffold can be erected and dismantled by the average skilled labor and there is no danger of children lifting or removing any workable parts as all trussing tightens into place on its own load weight. The scaffold may be installed around a building and remain up until all work is completed, such as, carpentry, masonry, brick cleaning and painting and reasonable rough usage or handling does not in any way affect or disturb the working parts of the scaffold.

From the foregoing description it becomes evident that the device is very simple and emcient in construction, may be easily and quickly as sembled or dismantled, provides a rigid scafi'old allowing the workmen to work up close to a building wall and provides a device which accomplishes the objects described.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is- 1. In a. knockdown scaffold structure, a series of uprights arranged in forward and rear rows and adapted to be mounted adjacent a building wall, a series of cross braces connecting the uprights of the forward row and a series of cross braces connecting the uprights of the rear row, an adjustable bracket mounted on each upright and adjustable vertically thereof, each adjustable bracket being provided with a pair of vertically spaced apertured plates, a series of transverse truss members connecting the adjustable brackets and having depending ends insertable through the apertures in said plates and connecting the forward and rear rows of uprights, a series of floor boards positioned on the transverse brackets, the space between the forward and rear rows of uprights above the floor boards being clear to prevent interference with the workmen walking on the floor boards, a series of toe board brackets having depending ends extending through the apertured plates of the adjustable brackets and extending toward the building wall and a series of toe boards positioned on the tow board brackets to allow the workmen to work close to the building wall.

2. In a knockdown scaffold structure, a series of uprights arranged in forward and rear rows and adapted to be mounted adjacent a building wall, a series of cross braces connecting the forward row of uprights and a series of cross braces connecting the rear row of uprights, an adjustable bracket mounted on each upright and adjustable vertically thereof, each adjustable bracket being provided with a pair of apertured plates, a series of transverse truss members connecting the adjustable brackets and having depending ends insertable through the apertures in said plates, a series of floor boards positioned on the transverse brackets, the space between the forward and rear rows of uprights above the floor boards being clear to prevent interference with the workmen walking on the floor boards.

3. In a knockdown scaffold structure, a series of uprights assembled in end to end relation, a bracket connecting the uprights together in abutting relation, each bracket belng provided with connecting plates, a foot bracket secured to the bottom end of each bottom upright, a series of cross braces connecting the successive brackets, a

vertically adjustable bracket on each upright section, cross trusses connecting the adjustable brackets and extending transversely from column to column, each adjustable bracket being provided with spaced apertured plates into which the transverse trusses may be inserted to stiffen the structure, and a series of scaffold boards supported by the transverse trusses and providing a walk for the workmen, the arrangement being such that the space between forward and rear uprights is unobstructed.

4. In a knockdown scaffold structure, a series of uprights arranged in parallel rows and adapted to be mounted adjacent a building wall, a connecting bracket mounted on the upper end of each upright, an upright extension mounted in each connecting bracket and forming an extension of the first uprights, a foot bracket secured to the lower end of each said first bracket, cross braces connecting the connecting bracket of one upright with the foot bracket of the next upright and extending in the plane of the forward or rear rows of uprights, a floor bracket adjustable vertically of each upright, transverse truss members connecting the floor brackets of the forward and rear rows of uprights and providing transverse floor board supports, a series of floor boards positioned on the transverse truss members, a series of toe board brackets supported in the adjustable brackets of the forward row of uprights and extending toward the building wall and a toe board positioned on the toe board brackets.

5. In a knockdown scaifold structure, a series of uprights arranged in parallel rows, each upright comprising a series of elements in an end to end relationship, a connecting bracket for securing the adjacent ends of said elements of each upright together, longitudinally adjustable brackets on said uprights, each adjustable bracket including a horizontal flange having apertures, a truss member extending between opposed uprights of the two rows and having a portion at each end engaging in the apertures of the said flanges of the respective connector elements, said truss members providing a foundation for removable floor boards. a

6. In a knockdown scaffold structure, a series of uprights arranged in parallel rows, each upright comprising a series of wood elements of like length and cross sectional area in an end to end relationship, a connecting bracket for securing the adjacent ends of contiguous elements of each upright together, each bracket having a pair of vertically spaced flanges facing the bracket of the opposite upright of the other row, each of the said flanges having a pair of apertures, the apertures of one flange being vertically aligned with the corresponding apertures of the other flange, a truss member including end portions for engagement in the apertures of the two flanges of the opposed connecting brackets to thereby brace the uprights and maintain them in parallel vertical relationship, said truss members providing foundation for a flooring.

7. In a knockdown scaffold structure, a series of uprights arranged in parallel rows, each upright comprising a series of wood elements of like! length and cross sectional area in an end to end relationship, a connecting bracket for securing the adjacent ends of contiguous elements of each upright together, each bracket having a pair of vertically spaced flanges facing the bracket of the opposite upright of the other row, each of the said flanges having a pair of apertures, the apertures of one flange being vertically aligned with the corresponding apertures of the other flange, a truss member including end portions for engagement in the apertures of the two flanges of the opposed connecting brackets to thereby brace the uprights and maintain them in parallel vertical relationship, said truss members providing foundation for a flooring, and brace members conmeeting a bracket of one upright to a vertically spaced bracket of another upright in the same row.

8. In a knockdown scaffold structure, a series of uprights arranged in parallel rows, each upright comprising a series of wood timbers of equal length and cross sectional area in an end to end relationship, a connector element between the abutting ends of the elements of each upright, and a base member for receiving the bottom end of the lowermost element of each upright, each of the connector elements, except the base element, having flanges on the side thereof facing the connector element of the opposed upright of the other row, a truss member having an end portion detachably secured to the flanges of the respective opposed bracket and providing a foundation for a flooring, said connector element also having an apertured flange on the side thereof facing the adjacent upright of the same row, and brace rods detachably secured to the said last named flange of each bracket to a similar flange of the bracket vertically thereabove to thereby maintain the uprights in each row from displaceof facing the companion bracket in the opposite row being formed to provide means for detachably securing the respective truss ends thereto, and thereby maintain the uprights of the parallel rows in uniformly spaced relation, said truss members providing a foundation for a flooring, and bracing means for maintaining the said uprights of each row in parallel relation.

JOSEPH I". MARION. 

